This past Sunday at the Solano Stroll, a resident of El Cerrito had the chance to speak with candidates running for office in Berkeley and Albany about their positions on open government, transparency, and free speech. Based on their responses, it seems that supporters of open government would feel much more comfortable in these neighboring cities compared to El Cerrito.
Here are the questions that were asked, along with the responses received:
1. Does Berkeley allow citizens to offer comments at council meetings via Zoom? How do you deal with hate speech?
In Berkeley, citizens are allowed to offer comments via Zoom. The mayor typically steps in to shut down offensive or harmful comments, ensuring the environment remains respectful.
Albany, on the other hand, takes a more tolerant approach, maintaining decorum while enduring a wider range of comments.
Meanwhile, in El Cerrito, the decision was made to completely shut down Zoom comments, which limits residents’ ability to engage with their elected officials remotely. This move seems out of touch, especially in a time when other cities are embracing technology to expand participation.
2. Does the city manager ever take you out for lunch and pay for it with a city credit card? Is that even legal?
In both Berkeley and Albany, the response was a firm “No.” The idea that a city manager would take elected officials or department heads out for lunch on a city credit card was met with surprise and concern. Such a practice would be heavily scrutinized and, in many cases, could be deemed illegal.
However, in El Cerrito, this practice seems to be common. The city manager has reportedly taken department managers out for expensive dinners, while appreciation dinners for community members serving on city committees were terminated as a cost-saving measure. This disparity raises concerns about how fiscal responsibility is being prioritized in El Cerrito.
3. If a Berkeley resident asked to know the general fund balance as of July 31, 2024, would you provide that information? How difficult would it be to obtain that information?
Berkeley officials responded with confidence that this information would be easy to obtain. In fact, a Berkeley mayoral candidate was able to provide the requested information immediately, while another referred the resident to the city auditor, who also assured easy access to such information.
In contrast, El Cerrito officials responded that it was “not in the public interest” to share the general fund balance, making it impossible for residents to access this important information. This stark difference in transparency highlights the challenges El Cerrito faces in providing residents with the information they deserve.
4. If Berkeley hired a consultant to do surveys, would the data and the reports be made available to the council and the public?
Both Berkeley and Albany candidates explained that survey data, including the questions and crosstabs, would automatically be part of an agenda item. This means there would be no need to file an open records request, as the information would be readily available to the public and council.
In El Cerrito, the situation is quite different. Open records requests are frequently denied, leaving both the public and council members without critical information. For example, when the council voted on Measure G language, they weren’t provided with key survey data or crosstabs. A similar problem occurred with library surveys, where important data was withheld from the public.
The Bigger Picture: Why Open Government Matters
Open government is essential for maintaining public trust. In cities like Berkeley and Albany, residents can access information, ask questions, and hold their government accountable. In El Cerrito, the refusal to provide basic information, such as the general fund balance or survey data, undermines that trust.
El Cerrito residents deserve the same level of transparency as those in neighboring cities. The practices in Berkeley and Albany show how open government can function effectively, and they provide a model that El Cerrito could follow. Until that happens, supporters of open government may feel more at home advocating for their causes in nearby cities rather than their own.
Contact Your El Cerrito City Council Members
If you are concerned about transparency and open government in El Cerrito, you can reach out to the El Cerrito City Council members directly:
- Mayor Lisa Motoyama
Email: lmotoyama@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
Phone: (510) 215-4300 - Mayor Pro Tem Tessa Rudnick
Email: trudnick@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
Phone: (510) 215-4300 - Councilmember Paul Fadelli
Email: pfadelli@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
Phone: (510) 215-4300 - Councilmember Carolyn Wysinger
Email: cwysinger@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
Phone: (510) 215-4300 - Councilmember Gabe Quinto
Email: gquinto@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
Phone: (510) 215-4300
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El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 